Honorary pallbearers were his granddaughters, greatgrandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and card and coffee buddies.

Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Randolph.

George was born Aug. 26, 1929, to George Anthony, Sr. and Anna (Hoffman) Thelen in Randolph. He married Norma Jean Brodersen Dec. 27, 1950, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Leeds, Iowa. They spent nearly all of their 68 years of marriage living in the Randolph area. Growing up, George attended Country School Eagle Valley District 55 in Cedar County and Pierce County Country School. In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He received Heavy 20th Military Infantry training at Fort Ord, Calif. From May 1952-March 1953, George served in the Korean War, stationed in South Korea in the Mortar Company. He received awards for marksmanship (pistol and rifle). At the time George was honorably discharged, he was a corporal and one week away from becoming a sergeant. He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in 1953 for his injuries. In 1955, George and Norma Jean purchased a farm north of Randolph on the Correction Line. They farmed until 2003 when George semi-retired.

George was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, VFW Alvin Kessler Post 5545 of Randolph and the American Legion Post 113. He loved Oliver tractors, hunting, playing cards, enjoying coffee with his buddies, working on the farm and spending time with family.

He was preceded in death by three sons, Patrick (1963), David (1983) and Doug (2015) Thelen; his parents; sisters, Helen Schmidt, Irene Rohde and Kathleen Lenton; brothers, Urban “Bud,” Melvin “Fat” and Paul Thelen; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.